Second arrest made in shooting that wounded music exec in Atlanta

Atlanta police made a second arrest this week in connection with a shooting that caused a music executive and father of five to lose control of his truck and hit a bicyclist in Atlanta’s West End three months ago.

Brandon Welch was arrested Tuesday in Decatur on aggravated assault charges in the June 7 shooting that injured 42-year-old Tobias Thomas, Atlanta police said in an emailed statement Friday.

Authorities arrested another man, Deon Cain, in connection with the crime in July. Cain faces charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to police, a man fired rounds into the air in the 800 block of Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard. Police are still investigating the roles they believe Welch and Cain played in the shooting, Atlanta police Office Lisa Bender told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Thomas, who has been responsible for scouting talent and developing recording artists for numerous labels, was hit in the back of the head by a stray bullet, authorities said. He lost control of the truck before crashing into a utility pole, a storefront and a bicyclist.

Thomas was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical but stable condition. The cyclist, identified as 38-year-old Oumar Dia, was treated at the same hospital for serious leg injuries.

Both men have since been released from the hospital and are recovering, Bender said.

A GoFundMe account created for Thomas at the time of the shooting has raised more than $1,687 of its $100,000 goal.

Investigators said it started when three men were seen arguing. Two went into a store while the third stayed outside and drew a gun.